http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/CloserLook/wnt990819_woodruff_story.html

Marines are using small towns in America to train to fight the war of the 21st century  when the enemy could be anywhere. (ABCNEWS)

By Bob Woodruff ABCNEWS.com M O N T R O S S, Va., Aug. 19  The Marines were preparing today for what they call the war of the next millennium. On one level, that means doing what Marines have always done: flying into hostile territory, moving quickly in small groups and securing the ground so other soldiers can follow. But todays exercise was different. The war zone: Montross, Va, population 359. Using tourist maps, the Marines took over the firehouse and the high school as curious residents watched. There are terrorists that are being played by Marines that are all over the town, explains one. War Games This is something new for the Marines. In the past year they have begun staging war games in small-town America to practice a very new type of mission. They call it the three-block war. The three prongs of the three-block war are peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and low- to mid-intensity combat, says Capt. Ted Novak. On this kind of mission, a Marine might feed the people, keep the peace, and come under fire  all in a single day. The best place to train for this is in real towns, not on military bases. There are real people, there are real businesses. People going about their daily routines, dogs barking at night, says Capt. Winston Heron. In the war of the 21st century, the enemy could be anywhere. There are no front lines, no uniforms, and no safe places to hide. The Marines must learn how to fight that war without losing too many soldiers. ~

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), August 24, 1999

Answers

And the Marines excluded from Posse Commitatus. It is so frighteningly obvious what they are accomplishing with these 'train-in-American-towns' drills, but probably less than 20% of the populace is aware or concerned. It should be deeply frightening when an all-mercenary military begins training to pacify its own populace--what was that about not letting Caesar bring the legions inside the gates of Rome?

-- Spidey (in@jam.commie), August 24, 1999.

Totally anecdotal:

So why bother, you ask? hopefully someone on this forum lives or works near Belvoir and can explain.

The helicopter activity near Fort belvoir, Va. is becoming so frequent that they are flying over almost every 5 minutes!! (activity has increased exponentially over the last few months)

Not paranoid, just curious, Whats going on at Belvoir??

-- David Butts (dciinc@aol.com), August 24, 1999.

Helicopter activity? They aren't military, they are pretend. They are obviously filming a sequel to "Apocalypse Now", or maybe "The Omega Man".

-- sam (sam67@home.com), August 25, 1999.